Month: September 2021

India reported 25,404 new Covid-19 cases and 339 deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday.

Of these cases, Kerala recorded 15,058 new COVID19 cases and 99 deaths in the last 24 hours.
The cumulative COVID-19 cases stand at 3,32,89,579 and death toll increases to 4,43,213.

With a current recovery rate of 97.58 per cent, 37,127 patients recovered in the last 24 hours taking the total COVID-19 recoveries in the country to 3,24,84,159.

Meanwhile, the total active caseload in the country reached to 3,62,207.

While the weekly positivity rate stands at 2.07 per cent and has been less than 3 per cent for the last 81 days, the daily positivity rate stands at 1.78 per cent and has been less than 3 per cent for the last 15 days.

With India ramping up its COVID-19 testing capacity, a total of 54.44 crore tests have been conducted in the country so far.

In the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive, a total of 75.22 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far to the eligible beneficiaries in the country.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the people of the country as India’s vaccination coverage crossed the 75 crore mark on Monday.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) also congratulated India for accelerating COVID-19 vaccination and achieving the 75 crore mark. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be participating, along with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan and US President Joseph R Biden, in the Leaders’ Summit of the Quadrilateral Framework in Washington DC, USA, on September 24, 2021.

During the discussion, the leaders will discuss regional issues of shared interest and will also review the progress made since their first virtual Summit that was held on 12 March 2021
“As part of their ongoing efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, they will review the Quad Vaccine initiative which was announced in March this year. They will also exchange views on contemporary global issues such as critical and emerging technologies, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber security, maritime security, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, climate change and education,” MEA said in a statement.

Recent developments in Afghanistan are also expected to figure prominently in the deliberations. PM Modi is also likely to have one on one meeting with Quad leaders including US President Joe Biden

‘The Summit would provide a valuable opportunity for dialogue and interactions among the leaders, anchored in their shared vision of ensuring a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.” MEA said in a statement

Prime Minister is scheduled to address the General Debate of the High-Level Segment of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 25 September 2021 in New York. The theme for this year’s General Debate is ‘Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations’. (ANI)

Taliban issued new rules for Afghan women attending universities on Sunday under which they will be required to wear head coverings and the classrooms will be gender-segregated.

Kathy Gannon, writing in The Christian Science Monitor said that Taliban officials said that women in Afghanistan can continue to study in universities, including at post-graduate levels, but classrooms will be gender-segregated and Islamic dress is compulsory.

Taliban government’s new Higher Education Minister, Abdul Baqi Haqqani said that women cannot play sports, but can continue to study in Afghan universities. Co-ed classes are forbidden and women must adhere to an Islamic dress code.

Haqqani, laid out the new policies at a news conference, several days after Afghanistan’s new rulers formed an all-male government.

Haqqani said hijabs will be mandatory but did not specify if this meant compulsory headscarves or also compulsory face coverings.

Gender segregation will also be enforced, he said. “We will not allow boys and girls to study together,” he said. “We will not allow co-education.”

The world has been watching closely to see to what extent the Taliban might act differently from their first time in power, in the late 1990s. During that era, girls and women were denied an education and were excluded from public life, said Gannon.

The Taliban have suggested they have changed, including in their attitudes toward women. However, women have been banned from sports and the Taliban have used violence in recent days against women protesters demanding equal rights, reported US-based agency The Christian Science Monitor.

Haqqani said the subjects being taught would also be reviewed. While he did not elaborate, he said he wanted graduates of Afghanistan’s universities to be competitive with university graduates in the region and the rest of the world, reported The Christian Science Monitor.

The Taliban, who subscribe to a strict interpretation of Islam, banned music and art during their previous time in power. This time around television has remained and news channels still show women presenters, but the Taliban messaging has been erratic, said Gannon.

In an interview on Afghanistan’s popular TOLO News, Taliban spokesman Syed Zekrullah Hashmi said last week that women should give birth and raise children. While the Taliban have not ruled out the eventual participation of women in government, the spokesman said “it’s not necessary that women be in the Cabinet.”

The Taliban seized power on August 15. They initially promised inclusiveness and a general amnesty for their former opponents, but many Afghans remain deeply fearful of the new rulers.

Taliban police officials have beaten Afghan journalists, violently dispersed women’s protests and formed an all-male government despite saying initially they would invite broader representation.

The new higher education policy signals a change from the accepted practice before the Taliban takeover. Universities were co-ed, with men and women studying side by side, and female students did not have to abide by a dress code. However, the vast majority of female university students opted to wear headscarves in line with tradition.

In elementary and high schools, boys and girls were taught separately, even before the Taliban came to power. In high schools, girls had to wear tunics reaching to their knees and white headscarves, and jeans, makeup and jewellery were not permitted, reported The Christian Science Monitor. (ANI)

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday appealed to the representatives of various farmers’ unions not to hold protests across the state against the farm laws passed by the Centre as it is impacting the economy of Punjab.

The Chief Minister, without mincing any words, categorically said that farmers should desist from holding protests in a state which ‘stood like a rock’ with them in favour of their legitimate issues against farm laws passed by the BJP led Central Government and ‘thrusted it upon them unilaterally’ even without taking them into confidence.

“The ongoing protests at 113 places in Punjab by the farmers are not at all in the interests of the state, and has considerably impacted its economic development,” he said while hoping that his request would be acceded by the farmers on agitation.

Further, Amarinder Singh mentioned that the farm laws have already been rejected in the state assembly and replaced by the state government’s farm laws which were sent to the Governor for his accent, but “to our dismay, these have not yet been forwarded to the President of India”.

He also claimed that anything within the purview of his government was done by him promptly. “A delegation of various leaders from these farmers unions met me recently at Chandigarh to get the price of sugarcane hiked from Rs. 325 to Rs. 360 per quintal and the same was accepted by me at once,” he said.

Expressing concern over the inordinate delay in meeting farmers’ justified demands due to Centre’s apathy, the Chief Minister said that instead of holding protests in the state, they should mount pressure on Union Government to get these anti-farmer laws repealed.

Reiterating the state government’s commitment to ensure the overall welfare of farmers, Amarinder Singh said that a new umbrella programme “Kamyaab Kisan Khusaal Punjab (K3P) Mission” during 2021-22 launched with an aim of improvement in the income of those dependent on agriculture on a sustainable basis while preserving the ecological balance for future generations at a cost of Rs.3780 crore to be implemented during next three years (2021-24).

“The state government has waived the farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh of 5.64 lakh farmers at a cost of Rs 4624 crore thus fulfilling another major poll promise,” he added while handing over the debt waiver certificates to 75 farm labourers and landless farmers as a symbolic launch of this scheme in Hoshiarpur district. (ANI)

Businessman Gautam Thapar who was arrested in an alleged bank loan fraud case, has moved a bail petition in a Delhi Court.

Thapar was recently arrested in an alleged bank loan fraud case, currently going in Judicial custody.

The hearing on the bail plea on Monday adjourned for September 17, due to the non-availability of the concerned judge. ED in last month had arrested Avantha Group promoter Gautam Thapar in a money laundering case following searches at multiple locations in Delhi and Mumbai.

The bail application was filed by a team from Karanjawala & Co. Sandeep Kapur, Senior Partner along with Vivek Suri, Rajat Soni, Niharika Karanjawala Misra, Mridul Yadav, Apoorva Pandey, GG Kashyap, Abhimanshu Dhyani, Sidhant Singh & Sahil Modi. The team had briefed Vijay Aggarwal, advocate to appear on behalf of Gautam Thapar.

Recently Delhi High Court had sought responses of Enforcement Directorate (ED) on two applications moved by Avantha Group promoter, Gautam Thapar arrested in an alleged bank loan fraud case, challenging the grounds of his arrest and also sought a copy of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered against him.

According to the ED, an ECIR was registered against Gautam Thapar, Avantha Realty Ltd., Oyster Buildwell Pvt. Ltd. and others, alleging criminal breach of trust, cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery for diversion/ misappropriation of public money during the period 2017 to 2019.

Earlier, ED told the Delhi Court: “Investigation revealed that approximately Rs 500.11 crores proceeds of crime, were laundered through Oyster Buildwell Pvt Ltd (OBPL), Jhabua Power Limited (JPL), Jhabua Power Investment Ltd. (JPIL), Avantha Power and Infrastructure Ltd (APIL), Avantha Realty Ltd. (ARL) etc. which are being controlled and beneficially owned directly or indirectly by Gautam Thapar.”

ED told the court that the probe disclosed that the same agreements were made by these entities to fraudulently obtain huge amounts running into more than Rs 500 crores from Yes Bank and further by different modes of layering the tainted amount was laundered and the loan account thus turned NPA causing a loss of huge public money. (ANI)

Actors Kartik Aaryan and Alaya F headed to Panchgani on Monday to continue shooting for their upcoming film ‘Freddy’.

Taking to his Instagram Story, Kartik shared a video of him travelling to the location for the shoot of his next schedule of ‘Freddy’.

In the clip, Kartik captured a glimpse of the greenery-filled mountains with raindrops on the window.

“Now back to #Freddy,” he captioned the clip.

Aaya also posted a video on her Instagram Story while travelling to the location in Panchgani.

“Back to #Freddy,” she wrote.

A source close to the film shared, “After shooting for a part of the film in Bombay, the actress has now travelled to Panchgani to shoot for the next chunk of the film. The actress has had a very busy schedule and has been shuffling between her film projects as well as brand commitments.”

‘Freddy’ went on floors on August 1 in Mumbai. Kartik announced the news on his Instagram Story and shared a picture from the sets.

The forthcoming film is being helmed by Shashanka Ghosh and is produced by Ekta Kapoor (Balaji Telefilms) and Jay Shewakramani (Northern Lights Films).

The romantic thriller is said to be packed with unpredictable twists and sharp turns. (ANI)

India’s cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage surpassed 75 crores, of which 53,38,945 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday.

“With the administration of 53,38,945 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, country’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage surpassed the cumulative figure of 75 crore as per provisional reports. This has been achieved through 75,64,949 sessions,” the health ministry said.

Of the total, 1,03,64,261 healthcare workers received the first dose and 85,98,485 second vaccine doses; 1,83,37,884 front line workers were administered the first dose and 1,40,44,281 vaccine doses given as the second dose to front line workers.

According to the health ministry, 29,92,22,651 vaccine doses were administered as the first dose and 4,37,98,076 vaccine doses were given as the second dose in the age group 18-44 years.

Also, in the age group of 45-59 years, 14,37,03,736 people have received the first dose and 6,31,16,459 vaccine doses were given as the second dose. Whereas 9,32,06,216 vaccine doses were administered as the first dose and 4,94,45,594 vaccine doses were given as the second dose to the people over 60 years.

Additionally, the recovery of 37,687 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally of recovered patients (since the beginning of the pandemic) to 3,24,47,032. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 97.54 per cent.

Total 27,254 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. The trend of less than 50,000 daily new cases is being reported for 78 consecutive days now.

India’s active caseload is presently at 3,74,269 and it constitutes 1.13 per cent of the country’s total positive cases.

The weekly positivity rate at 2.11 per cent remains less than 3 per cent for the last 80 days now.

The ministry further said that the testing capacity across the country continued to be expanded in the last 24 hours saw a total of 12,08,247 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted 54,30,14,076 cumulative tests. (ANI)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya on Monday alleged that Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Hasan Mushrif and his family members are involved in money laundering and have stakes in shell companies.

Mushrif, a senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader holds the portfolio of the Rural Development Department.
Speaking to mediapersons, the BJP leader said, “Hasan Mushrif, his wife Sahera Hasan Mushrif and their son Navid Mushrif, the whole Mushrif family have their shares in these fraudulent practices in money laundering and Benami property. There are records in various agencies that the companies in which these people were involved are actually shell companies. In his election affidavit, he has mentioned these shell companies. I do not know how he could do that.”

To validate his claims, Somaiya presented a few documents and the election affidavit of Hasan Mushrif.

“Tomorrow I will file a formal complaint against Hasan Mushrif in Enforcement Directorate (ED) with documentary proof. Day after tomorrow I will be in Delhi and meet Finance Ministry officials to register my complaint there too. I have the names of two other ministers with the detail of their corruption. One of them from NCP and the other from Shiv Sena.”

Earlier, Somaiya had levelled allegations of money laundering against Maharashtra Cabinet Ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Anil Parab. (ANI)

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes passed away on Monday at the age of 80, informed the Congress party.

He was admitted to a private hospital in Karnataka’s Mangaluru.
“We are deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Oscar Fernandes ji, our heartfelt condolences to his family. A Congress stalwart, his vision for an inclusive India had a huge influence on the politics of our times. The Congress family will deeply miss his mentorship & guidance,” tweeted the Congress.

Fernandes, considered close to the Nehru-Gandhi family, held several party positions and also served as the Union Cabinet Minister for Transport, Road and Highways and Labour and Employment in the UPA regime. (ANI)